Sherman's Travel

As temperatures drop and skies darken earlier each night, it’s easy to fantasize of warm nights on a secluded beach with a Technicolor sunset on the horizon, a fruity drink beading condensation close by. But an aspect that doesn’t typically make it into the reverie is the joy of flying to your destination in one shot, without layovers or transfers. For fliers of Southwest Airlines, the trip from fantasy to reality has become a bit more streamlined.

The airline has begun offering nonstop flights to Key West, Fla., the southernmost stop on the continental U.S. route. The news is welcome for passengers who prefer spending the entirety of their expedition in one seat. Fliers to the Keys typically touch down in South Florida to switch to a smaller plane for the journey’s final push. These “puddle jumper” flights are provided by most major airlines, with only a handful giving direct flights.

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Miami. Just the mention of the word brings about all sorts of mental images. Beaches, notoriously sweltering weather, traffic that will make the average New Yorker have pity on you, and plenty of opportunities to ingest more calories than you’ll burn while there. In an effort to get you outside of the boardroom and into the real Miami, we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings.

Today’s Miami is vastly different than the Miami portrayed in nostalgic films, but bits and pieces of that old world remain. If you’ve come to South Florida in search of bona fide Cuban cuisine, you owe it to yourself (and your clients) to head over to Miami Beach. If you’re already in the area due to a meeting at the Miami Beach Convention Center, you’ll be happy to find Puerto Sagua Restaurant, which has become something of a landmark as the years have passed. The more Miami changes, the more this place stays the same. It’s set up like a diner, is almost always busy, and utterly lacks a “relaxed” atmosphere. In other words, it’s the perfect place to turn for a lightning lunch. Read more

Come to Miami for one last vacation before summer draws to an end. Stay two nights at the 4.5-star Viceroy Miami and receive your third night on the house, a savings of over 30 percent on current rates. Room rates start at $133 a night, including weekends, for travel through September 10.

Take in the breathtaking Biscayne Bay, relax on the white sand beaches, experience the South Beach nightlife, and live the luxurious Miami lifestyle that everyone raves about. The prime downtown location of the property offers guests easy access to shopping, beaches, and the diverse Miami culture. The Viceroy Miami features Florida’s largest infinity pool, a full-service spa, several on-site dining options, and a chic rooftop lounge.

The Viceroy King room featured in this end-of-summer special includes a private balcony, a complete kitchenette, and a daily national newspaper. Guests will also receive a variety of welcome amenities, including VIP access to Club 50 (Viceroy Miami’s very own lounge atop the hotel tower at fifty stories), two recovery drinks, and a late 2pm checkout.

The Forever Summer promotion is available for any three-night stay booked by August 31. To book, visit the Viceroy Miami website and enter the promotion code FOREVER.

See our Miami destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights.

Indulge in Miami’s white sand beaches and eclectic culture on a three-night stay at a 4-star hotel for $125 per night. This special rate from the Sonesta Bayfront Hotel Coconut Grove saves 30 percent on current rates.

Travel over the following dates for the best nightly rates: July 26-August 2, August 6-14, or August 18- September 28. The 30 percent discount only applies to stays of three nights or longer.

Stay in a Deluxe City View Room with panoramic views of Coconut Grove and the Miami skyline. Furnishings include a king bed with Egyptian cotton linens, a kitchenette with a stove, refrigerator, and microwave, cable TV, a stocked mini-bar, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a private balcony.

The Sonesta Bayfront Hotel is situated on the coast of Biscayne Bay, adjacent to Coral Gables in trendy Coconut Grove. Explore the neighborhood’s vibrant art scene, quaint cafes, and lively nightlife. The excitement of downtown Miami, and picturesque South Beach are only a minutes-drive away.

To book, visit the Sonesta Bayfront Hotel’s website by clicking here. To reserve over the phone, call 800-766-3782.

See our Miami destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our TravelSearch price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights.

Escape to a lush island resort on Florida’s Treasure Coast this season and save 25 percent on current pricing. The upscale Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort and Marina is offering rates as low as $110 a night for travel through August 30.

Situated on a seven mile reef between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, this 200-acre oasis is the perfect place to relax and recharge. Sun tan or take a walk on one of the unspoiled or beaches, try deep-sea or river fishing, jet skiing, tennis, kayaking, or biking. There are also four dining options, three outdoor pools, an executive 18-hole golf course, and a 77-slip marina at the resort.

Choose between a room with a king or two double beds, both with a furnished step-out balcony. High-speed Internet access, compact refrigerators, video-game consoles, and complimentary premium channels are also available.

To book this offer, visit the Hutchinson Island Marriott Beach Resort and Marina’s website or call 800-228-9290. Don’t forget to mention promo code ADV.

See our Florida destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights.

Sitting less than 25 miles north of Miami, Fort Lauderdale has made a name for itself with an intricate canal system, miles of white sand beaches, and a booming nightlife. Right now, the Westin Beach Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale and Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel are offering extended summer specials for ShermansTravel.com readers, allowing guests to relax on the sandy shoreline without breaking the bank.  Now through October 15, rates start at $105 per night at the Sheraton, a 45 percent savings, and $115 per night at the Westin, a 60 percent savings. Both resorts are also offering valet parking for $10, a $15 nightly discount.

With little seasonal variation, you can count on a sunny, carefree vacation in Fort Lauderdale.  Both resorts have undergone extensive renovations and now feature beachfront access, exquisite dining options, and a palm-lined pool deck.  At the Westin, take advantage of the new Heavenly Spa by Westin, where they offer an extensive menu of revitalizing treatments, steam rooms, Jacuzzis, and comfortable locker rooms.  The new nautical design of the Sheraton is inviting for families, with on-site dining options including the iconic Wreck Bar showcasing porthole views into a swimming pool, where guests may witness a mermaid sighting.

To book this offer, call the Westin at 888-627-7108 or the Sheraton at 888-627-7109 and mention the rate plan SHERMANS. Book by September 30.

See our Fort Lauderdale destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights.

Treat yourself to a luxurious getaway without breaking the bank this summer. With rates as low as $134 a night, the 4-Diamond Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida, invites travelers to experience the resort’s luxurious facilities at a 25 percent discount on current rates. Arrive on the following dates and stay for three nights or more, including weekends:

• July 15, 22- 26, 29-31

• August 1, 5-8, 14-16, 19-22

Other dates through September 30 are available from as little as $15 more a night.

The luxurious Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club is located close to Clearwater, an area known for its warm weather and pleasant breezes. The elegant resort boasts a private 72-slip marina, an 18-hole private golf course, a 12-court tennis complex, a 5,000 square-foot fitness center, and more. In addition, five restaurants, and a salon and day spa create the perfect getaway destination. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the property is situated on the water in downtown St. Petersburg overlooking the Tampa Bay. All 347 guestrooms were recently updated and offer luxurious amenities such as premium bedding and flat screen TVs.

St. Petersburg attracts visitors with its beautiful beaches as well as the Salvador Dali Museum, Fort De Soto Park, and the St. Petersburg Pier. Or, rent a bike and discover more of the city, which was voted one of the Top 10 Cities for Cycling by ShermansTravel.

To book this offer, call 800-228-9290 or use rate code ZZ1 when making reservations online at www.vinoyrenaissanceresort.com.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights.

Some hotels are merely a place to rest your head at night, but others hold fascinating tales of wartime refuges, remarkable wildlife, valuable art, and ghostly spirits that refuse to let go. Sign up to be amazed and maybe learn a thing or two on these exceptional hotel tours.

Until recently, most people had forgotten there was an air raid shelter underneath the Hotel Metropole in Hanoi, Vietnam. When staff discovered it during some routine work on the pool area, however, the hotel decided to excavate the bunker and restore it to its original state. Now, hotel guests can participate in nightly tours that highlight the shelter’s famous past residents – including Joan Baez, who recorded “Where Are You Now My Son” there in 1972 – and Hotel Metropole’s role during the Vietnam War.

An in-house historian leads groups through the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida, each Wednesday through Saturday to reveal such nuggets as the unlikely origins of the hotel and President Calvin Coolidge’s preference to dine with the hotel staff during his visits. The tour costs $5 for guests, $10 for non-guests; alternatively, book the tour and a three-course lunch at Marchand’s Bar & Grill for $25.

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For a last-minute Memorial Day Weekend trip, head to sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida for three nights starting at $313. For those who plan in advance, this offer is valid through September 30.

Stay at the historic Riverside Hotel – the only hotel on glitzy Las Olas Boulevard – in a traditional guest room with either a king or queen bed, vintage 1930s decor, cable TV, same-day dry cleaning service, and Wi-Fi access. For $76 more, upgrade to a spacious executive tower room with a king bed, contemporary furnishings, and a balcony overlooking the city.

As an added bonus, the Riverside Hotel adds in the following savings: 25 percent off services from a local salon, 20 percent off dinner at the hotel’s Indigo restaurant which features Classic American Cuisine, buy one get one free ice cream from popular confectioner Kilwins, and half off beer, wine, or cocktails at the hotel’s Golden Lyon Vintage Pub.

The Riverside Hotel provides guests with many amenities such as an outdoor pool with food and beverage service, a fitness center, onsite restaurants, bars and lounges, a business center, and riverside boat slips. Read more

This summer, explore vibrant neighborhoods or relax under a palm tree in white-hot Miami. Stay at the stylish boutique Hotel Urbano for three nights and receive the third night free. This means effectively you’ll pay only $87 per night – a savings of over 30% on seasonal rates.

Hotel Urbano is a contemporary design hotel located in the high-class downtown area of Brickell, home to soaring skyscrapers and upscale shops and restaurants. It’s just two miles from Key Biscayne, a seven-mile-long barrier island with exceptional sea life and scuba diving opportunities, and three miles from the bohemian neighborhood of Coconut Grove. Stylish South Beach is eight miles away.

You’ll stay in a City View room at this rate, which offers iHome technology, complimentary Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV with premium channels, luxury bath products, and a walk-out balcony overlooking downtown Miami. Downstairs, enjoy rotating galleries by local artists, and Bistro Urbano, a full-service restaurant and bar with specialty cocktails and South Florida-influenced cuisine. Then lay out at the hotel’s luxurious outdoor pool, where private cabanas are also available.

To book this deal, visit the Hotel Urbano website and choose the Summer Travel Deal. The promotion code “3FREE” will appear in the booking engine. Or call 877-499-5265 and mention the same promotion. This deal is valid date between June 1 and September 30, including weekends and the Fourth of July. A minimum three-night stay is required.

See our Miami destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our TravelSearch price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights.